an old lady,s poem

[jameelash]

salam

An Old Lady's Poem

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ...with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
...Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!
*********************

Remember this poem when you meet me next time....don't brush me aside without looking at my young soul within ...... Remember, you will one day be there, too!

[Qurratul Ayn]

Quite an astounding poem!

Very touching :) Did you write that, Sister jameelash???

Remember, you will one day be there, too!

Indeed.

Isn't that the truth, eh?

[~Zaria~]

Assalamu-alaikum,

JazakAllah khayrun for sharing this with us - its beautiful, yet so sad.


I often look at my aging mum and Im reminded of this ayat:

"And he to whom We grant long life, We revert him to weakness; so will they not understand?" (Al-Quraan 36:68)


- Its often enough to remind one be more patient, tolerant and understanding of our aging parents/ grand-parents.

Its unfortunate to see the growing numbers of 'abandoned' parents at old-age homes and care facilities.....while it may be necessary to obtain help at times, too often we dont realise the great PRILVILGE and reward Allah bestows on those who look after their parents.

May Allah (subhanawataála) grant us all this understanding.
Ameen.

:wa:

[جوري]

The gift of health and faculties should be fostered from a young age for surely we will be asked about it on the day of recompense!
lovely poem otherwise - the age and events coinciding are off by a decade or two at least by the living standards of the west!
May Allah SWT grant us good health and autonomy ... There is nothing more humiliating than being at the mercy of some nurse or nurse's aid who will bathe or diaper you when she feels like it and takes out her aggression when no one is looking.
Kind and concerned nurses have been far and in between wherever I've rotated and it's one thing to observe a most unkind behavior toward others and another thing all together to be at the receiving end of it.

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[CosmicPathos]

I've read this poem as being written by an old man on facebook. :s

Nevertheless, I think no one would want to be at the mercy of others while lying in the bed and depending on employed people to dispose off partially digested crap ...

I think we should all ask Allah to give us death while we are healthy and not weak/frail and dependent on others for the most basic of needs.

It is far better to live like a tiger for a day than to live like a jackal for a hundred years. (Tipu Sultan)